Kelsey Phillips writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2013: Kelsey Phillips

Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its members’ top albums of 2013. Our next list is from volunteer Kelsey Phillips.

• Kurt Vile – Wakin on a Pretty Dze (Matador)
  BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
  
  This is pretty easily my favorite album of 2013. Vile's semi-mumbled, unhurried, soothing sounds are those that I could listen to day in and day out. It's easy to space out and not focus on the lyrics, but Vile is one of the best song writers I've come across; his lyrics are self-aware, thought provoking, and incredibly witty. I really believe that this man would have a hard time writing a bad song.
• Deerhunter – Monomania (4AD)
  BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
  
  This is the dirty indie/garage rock that I live for. This is stuff I drink whiskey too. Bradford Cox is always hard to predict, and his fifth Deerhunter album is no different.
• STRFKR – Miracle Mile (Polyvinyl)
  BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
  
  Pitchfork can say what it wants about this album falling flat; maybe it did compared to their earlier albums, but it still makes me dance my ass off so it's on this list.
• Superchunk – I Hate Music (Merge)
  BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
  
  Kind of a given. These guys always put out reliably good music, and since they've only released one album after an almost 10-year hiatus I'm pretty sure everyone was excited for this. It didn't disappoint, with solid uptempo tracks mixed with some more mellow, thoughtful moments.
• Chance the Rapper – Acid Rap (self-released)
  BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
  
  Hard to not include this one. It's full of rad guest spots and is all over the map in terms of style. Chancelor Bennet is a goofy guy but has major talent, with that nasally flow that really works for him.
• Ghost Wave – Ages (Flying Nun)
  BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
  
  I agree with critics that say this album gets repetitive, but there's not really a bad song on that album, so if they're "repeating" good songs, more power too them.
• Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels (Fool's Gold)
  BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
  
  Hard to go wrong with Killer Mike and El-P as a duo.
• My Bloody Valentine – mbv (self-released)
  BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
  
  This has to be on here since mbv broke the internet when it got released to YouTube. I could listen to this album for days. Shoegaze at it's finest.
• Danny Brown – Old (self-released)
  BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
  
  This is one of those albums that, after reviewing it for rotation, I realized I had recommended all 19 songs. I didn't expect this from a Danny Brown album, but he really came out of his shell on this one. "Side A" is super heavy with old demons, and even "Side B", which is more recognizably Danny, has some troubles of his past popping up over club samples. This definitely isn't just another XXX, and is worth a full listen.
• Earl Sweatshirt – Doris (Columbia)
  BUY: Reckless / Permanent / Insound / iTunes / eMusic
  
  He's new to the game and so doesn't have too much out there, but this was a very solid showing by Thebe Neruda Kgositsile. Plenty of fellow Odd Future artists on the verses, with sounds that are all over the map. Every song is unique, definitely keeps you listening.

Honorable Mentions

• California X - California X (Don Giovanni Records)
  Pity Sex - Feast of Love (Run For Cover)
  Yuck - Glow And Behold (Fat Possum/Pharmacy)
  True Widow - Circumambulation (Relapse)